I wasn't even sure which group to post this one in, I have never done a Power Steering UOA before.
So here is the deal: I took my 2003 Lexus GS430 in to have brakes done. My son has a good friend he trusts for automotive work. He works for a Honda dealer, and is actually allowed to work on friends' cars using the dealer facilities.
Anyway, in addition to the brake work, he gave the vehicle a general inspection. He stated "Your power steering fluid is black. It needs to be changed". I told him to just do the brake work and I would take care of the power steering fluid myself. Looking at the fluid through the reservoir, it does look pretty dark; but when I pulled the top (with little built-in plastic dipstick) and put some drops on a paper towel, it wasn't that bad! It was reddish brown.
I told my son that these mechanics are taught to automatically recommend fluid replacement if the fluid is not perfectly red, as these sorts of services are a money maker. However, to prove to my son that his mechanic friend is a bit overzealous, I told him I would have the fluid analyzed. He bet me $10 the analysis would come out as being bad. The fluid in this UOA was previously changed about 3 years ago, and has about 16K miles on it. So: Do I owe my son $10? Obviously copper is up there, but I have no idea if this is normal or not.
What is the consensus of the forum?
So here is the deal: I took my 2003 Lexus GS430 in to have brakes done. My son has a good friend he trusts for automotive work. He works for a Honda dealer, and is actually allowed to work on friends' cars using the dealer facilities.
Anyway, in addition to the brake work, he gave the vehicle a general inspection. He stated "Your power steering fluid is black. It needs to be changed". I told him to just do the brake work and I would take care of the power steering fluid myself. Looking at the fluid through the reservoir, it does look pretty dark; but when I pulled the top (with little built-in plastic dipstick) and put some drops on a paper towel, it wasn't that bad! It was reddish brown.
I told my son that these mechanics are taught to automatically recommend fluid replacement if the fluid is not perfectly red, as these sorts of services are a money maker. However, to prove to my son that his mechanic friend is a bit overzealous, I told him I would have the fluid analyzed. He bet me $10 the analysis would come out as being bad. The fluid in this UOA was previously changed about 3 years ago, and has about 16K miles on it. So: Do I owe my son $10? Obviously copper is up there, but I have no idea if this is normal or not.
What is the consensus of the forum?